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Bassline Breakdown
"DUNE TUNE" BY MARK KING
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Released in 1980, The album "Level 42" by Level 42 has long since been regarded as a bass guitar "breakthrough" album. Although he had only been playing bass for a few months, Mark King was firmly establishing himself as somewhat of a genius on this instrument.
In this edition of "BreakDown!", we will look at the variations of a track entitled "Dune Tune" from the above album, with special emphasis on how Mark performs this piece live. We'll break down the constituent parts of the main bass line. At the end, we'll piece all the parts together to play a condensed version of the line.
First Part - First Phrase
Mark was heavily influenced by Stanley Clarke, and this can be seen in this first phrase. For reference, look at the third part of the "School Days" BreakDown! edition. The entire piece is finger style, so lets have a look at the first phrase. The time signature is 2/4. Refer to the tab/notation and video for clarification.
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D-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, G-String hammer on from 13th to 14th fret, then play 16th fret, then open E-String
G-String 18th fret to G-String 14th fret, play an open D-String, D-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, G-String 14th fret twice, slide to 13th fret, then play open E-String
G-String 13th fret, then 13th to 16th fret hammer on - pull off, slide to 11th fret, then play open D-String twice, 9th to 11th fret D-String hammer on, G-String 9th fret, then play open A-String.
Form a chord with G-String 9th fret, D-String 11th fret, open A-String. Play the G, then D, then A, first in 16ths notes, then in 8th notes in 2/4 time sig.
Two note chord: G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret: play G-String then A-String, slide to G-9th fret, A-10th fret, play G-String then A-String, slide back to G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret: play G-String then A-String, the play G-String 6th fret, then G-String 4th fret and bend string up a full note and release.
The next piece of the first phrase is very similar to the section above, but with little pieces of "flashy bits" thrown in! The differences are highlighted in red. Here it is:
D-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, G-String hammer on from 13th to 14th fret, then play 16th fret, then open E-String
G-String 19th fret then bend up one full note and release, G-String 17th fret, play an open D-String, G-String 16th Fret slide to 14th fret, slide to 13th fret, then play open E-String
G-String 13th fret, then 13th to 16th fret hammer on - pull off, slide to 11th fret, then play open D-String twice, 9th to 11th fret D-String hammer on, G-String 9th fret, then play open A-String.
Form a chord with G-String 21st fret, D-String 17th fret, open A-String. Play the D, then G, then D, then A, then G-String slide from 19th to 18th fret, then play open A-String
Two note chord: G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret: play G-String then A-String, slide to G-9th fret, A-10th fret, play G-String then A-String, slide back to G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret: play G-String then A-String, the play G-String 6th fret, then G-String 4th fret and bend string up a full note and release.
Second Part - Second Phrase
This is like a little bridge to the main Dune Tune line. It is very effective in changing the mood of the tune slightly, without deviating too much from the rest of the piece. The time signature is 2/4. Refer to the tab/notation and video for clarification.
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Open E-String, then E-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, A-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, D-String 11th fret, play open A-String, G-String 9th slide to 11th fret, play open D-String, G-String 11th slide to 13th fret, play open E-String.
G-String hammer on 13th to 14th fret, pull off 14th to 13th fret, slide to 11th fret, play open D-String twice.
G-String 11th slide to 9th fret, play open D-String, A-String 10th fret. Keep this fretted formation and slide to G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret.
Form a chord: E-String 5th fret, G-String 6th fret: Play E then G in 8th notes, then play G-String 6th fret. Keep formation, slide to E-String 3rd fret, G-String 5th fret, Play E then G in 8th notes.
End 1st part of 2nd phrase with chord E-String 1st fret, G-String 2nd fret played together, open E-String, G-String 1st fret played together, then chord G-String 2nd fret, D-String 2nd fret, open A-String and strum.
The next piece of the first phrase is exactly the same as the first up until the end. The differences are highlighted in red. Here it is:
Open E-String, then E-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, A-String hammer on from 12th to 14th fret, D-String 11th fret, play open A-String, G-String 9th slide to 11th fret, play open D-String, G-String 11th slide to 13th fret, play open E-String.
G-String hammer on 13th to 14th fret, pull off 14th to 13th fret, slide to 11th fret, play open D-String twice.
G-String 11th slide to 9th fret, play open D-String, A-String 10th fret. Keep this fretted formation and slide to G-String 7th fret, A-String 8th fret.
Form a chord: E-String 5th fret, G-String 6th fret: Play E then G in 8th notes, then play G-String 6th fret. Keep formation, slide to E-String 6th fret, G-String 7th fret, Play the G, slide to E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, Play the G then the E.
End 1st part of 2nd phrase with chord E-String 5st fret, G-String 6th fret played together, open E-String, G-String 4th fret played together, then hammer on/pull off several times quickly on G-String from 4th to 6th fret, ending on 4th fret.
Third Part - Third Phrase
REPEAT PART 1 ABOVE!
Fourth Part - "Essential" Finger Line
This fourth part isn't actually officially part of Dune Tune, but Mark always seemed to tack it on to the end of the tune when playing it live. It comes from his first solo album, "Influences". The time signature is still 2/4. Refer to the tab/notation and video for clarification.
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E-String slide from 5th to 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th, then 9th, then 11th fret.
D-String open dead note, D-String 7th fret, G-String 11th fret, then 8th fret, D-String 9th fret, play open E-String.
Two note chord: open E-String, G-String 13th fret played together three times, then G-String 14th fret, G-String 16th fret.
Open D-String, G-String 9th to 11th to 9th fret hammer on/pull off played together, D-String 12th to 11th fret slide, play open A-String
E-String slide from 5th to 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th, then 9th, then 11th fret.
D-String open dead note, D-String 7th fret, G-String 11th fret, then 8th fret, D-String 9th fret, play open E-String.
D-String 9th to 11th fret slide, play open A-String twice, G-String 9th fret, G-String 11th fret, open D-String, G-String hammer on/pull off 11th to 12th to 11th fret slide to 9th fret, D-String slide from 12th to 11th fret.
E-String slide from 5th to 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th, then 9th, then 11th fret.
D-String open dead note, D-String 7th fret, G-String 11th fret, then 8th fret, D-String 9th fret, play open E-String.
D-String 9th to 11th fret slide, play open A-String twice, G-String 9th fret, G-String 11th fret, open D-String, G-String hammer on/pull off 11th to 12th to 11th fret slide to 9th fret, D-String slide from 12th to 11th fret.
E-String slide from 5th to 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th, then 9th, then 11th fret.
D-String open dead note, D-String 7th fret, G-String 11th fret, then 8th fret, D-String 9th fret, play open E-String.
Two note chord: open E-String, G-String 12th fret played together three times, then G-String 14th fret, G-String 16th fret.
Open D-String and G-String 9th to 11th to 9th fret hammer on/pull off played together, D-String 12th to 11th fret slide, play open A-String
E-String slide from 5th to 7th fret, G-String 8th fret, E-String 7th fret, G-String 8th, then 6th, then D-String 9th fret, then 7th fret, then 5th fret, A-String 7th fret, open E-String twice.
Finally...
PHEW! Now that the major pieces of the main bass line have been covered in tab, notation and video format, its time to play the whole lot all strung together!
Play the piece slow to start with and then build up speed. Remember, this piece should be played faster than the album version, but not be played too fast, or the overall feel gets lost in the commotion!
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I hope you enjoyed this "Breakdown!" article! I'll be back soon with another bass line!
You can find the Tab/Notation TEF file for this BreakDown! on the downloads page.
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